THE MOST AMAZING HIKES IN BARILOCHE, PATAGONIA
Heading to San Carlos de Bariloche?
Here's are some of the most amazing hikes to do whilst exploring Bariloche a must-do hiking destination on your itinerary for Patagonia.
Where do I start?
Just writing this post is making me dream and want to plan another adventure in Patagonia.
Arriving in Bariloche after having spent the past 3 weeks in smaller towns like El Chalten and El Hoyo which have a much more intimate feel, Bariloche came as a bit of a shock to the system.
By no means is it a bustling big city like Buenos Aires, but it is certainly much more built up. In other words, I missed the small-town charm I had grown accustomed to.
Perhaps I had been a little spoilt in El Chalten, where hiking trails literally began at your doorstep, running into people you'd met in the previous town was kind of the norm, everything felt familiar and at ease.
Bariloche is definitely more spread out but nevertheless has some amazing hiking trails nearby.
A complete guide to hiking in San Carlos de Bariloche
Cerro Campanario - Bariloche
Cerro Campanario
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1km
Time: 30-40 minutes to the top
How to get there: Take bus number 20 from the center. It's around a 30-minute bus ride (17.5km) from Hospedaje Penthouse, Bariloche.
The panoramic views at the top are absolutely gorgeous! With far-reaching 360-degree views over Lago Nahuel Huapi, Lago Perito Moreno and enclosing snow-topped mountains, it's a view to remember!
The hike can be a little slippery when the ground is dry and it's a short but steep uphill but apart from that, it's pretty easy.
My tip? This is a short hike and definitely one to do on a sunny morning, stopping by the cafe for a nice cuppa.
Cerro Campanario hike
My iPhone couldn't even capture a wide enough panoramic of the gorgeous mountains
Cerro Llao Llao (pronounced "shao shao")
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 7-8km loop including the hike to the viewpoint Mirador Llao Llao
Time: 4-5 hours loop
How to get there: Take bus 20 to Puerto Pañuelo and get off at the stop just before hotel Llao Llao. You'll need to walk along the road, past the golf course for another 30 minutes for the start of the trail.
Whilst you're doing the loop, you can also head to Playa Villa Tacul, a popular place for a picnic and also the lookout point at Lago Escondido.
The pristine lakes and mountainous backdrops are wonderful to spend a few hours enjoying a picnic and just chilling out.
The hike to the top of Cerro Llao Llao is around 30 minutes and it's definitely worth spending an hour or two there enjoying the views over the lakes with sparkling sapphire hues.
Looking out from Cerro Llao Llao
Cycling the Chico Circuit
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 24km loop
Time: 4-5 hours loop
How to get there: Go in the same direction towards Cerro Campanario and get off one stop after at km18.6 at Cordillera bike rental.
To rent your bike, there are two shops, Circuito Chico Adventure and Cordillera bike rental. The latter is the cheaper of the two.
This is a great way of exploring if you have the thigh power for the ups and downs of the circuit. There's always walking your bike up the hill on the occasional steep upslope.
The panoramic views are stunning and it's definitely worth stopping from time to time. My recommendation? Be sure to stop by Patagonia Brewery for lunch and a quick drink!
Hotel Llao Llao
Cycling the Chico Circuit
Refugio Frey + Lago Schmoll
Difficulty: Moderate/hard
Distance: 10km + 2km (Laguna Schmoll)
Time: 4 hours
How to get there: Take bus number 55 to the car park for the ski center where the trail begins.
The hike to Refugio Frey is pretty awesome.
The trail takes you through the forests with spectacular views over mountains and lakes. I couldn't help but stop along the way and a ton of photos.
It's possible to stay overnight at Refugio Frey whether you're camping or sleeping in a dorm. Laguna Tonchek is ridiculously beautiful.
My advice? Take a stroll around the Laguna and even slide down some of the snow-topped mountains.
Hike to Refugio Frey | Bariloche
Believe it or not, we hiked over that mountain to head to Laguna Schmoll! One of my highlights of hiking in Bariloche.
Head to Laguna Schmoll for probably one of the hardest hikes I have ever done. It's not obvious but there is a hiking trail in there somewhere, albeit it's really hard to find.
You'll see a load of red dots. Follow the trail up and over Frey to a spectacular Laguna. One of my favorite I have to say!!
Laguna Schmoll! After hiking over Frey, there's a trail that continues over this mountain! It's incredible!
This last part is hard and a set of hiking poles is probably a good idea. At least for the way down.
There are quite a few activities around the Refugio including rock climbing which looks incredible!!
Refugio Frey
Refugio Frey perched behind the Laguna
Lago Gutiérrez
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 3km (Laguna Schmoll)
Time: 1 hour
How to get there: Take bus 50 to the end just after the bridge. Follow the gravel road along the lake to the start of the trail.
This is a really easy and nice one to do and great for families with children.
The lake and views over the emerald waters are wonderful. You can also stop by Cascada de Los Duendes on the way.
Handy tips for Bariloche...
You can use the same Sube Card as you use in Buenos Aires to take the buses in Bariloche and top up at many of the local kiosks.
My biggest recommendation of Bariloche? Stock up on some chocolate!! There are loads of chocolate shops in town all and most of them will let you try before you buy.
Sunsets in Bariloche
They're stunning!! There are loads of great viewpoints around the city. The balcony from my hostel was an amazing place to watch the sky turn to fire as the sunset behind the mountains.
Sunset in Bariloche
Sunset on Christmas day!
How to get to Bariloche
From Buenos Aires: there are a number of flights each day between Buenos Aires to Bariloche as cheap as $50 at times. I use Skyscanner to see the cheapest available options.
You can also take a (very long) bus to Bariloche from Buenos Aires. You'll find the latest schedules on Busbud.
From El Chalten: Embrace yourself for a 24-hour bus ride. If you book in advance, the flights can be pretty cheap from El Calafate.
Where to stay in Bariloche
I have a few amazing hostels to recommend here.
A lovely hostel with stunning views, Bonita Lake House is the perfect place to stay for a few days. Located nearer to Cerro Campanario and the Chico Circuit, you can check out availability here.
Hospedaje Penthouse is the place to be if you're in Bariloche over Christmas or New Year. They organize Chrismas dinner with everyone at the hostel where everyone feasts over a lot of delicious food. If you're not there during this time, it's still a great place to be!
Valhalla: A beautiful house tucked away in a quiet village, check out prices and availability here.
Planning a trip or fancy a freebie? These are some websites and services I love:
Booking.com: For the best hotel deals! 🏝
World Nomads: Travel insurance on the go 🌎
Airbnb: For the best apartment deals!🏡
Affiliate links above!
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